OUT OF STYLE ALERT: MySpace Edition

Like all great trends, styles come and styles go. Sometimes they even go full circle and come back again! Is this the case for the once popular social networking site MySpace? Can it be revived and redesigned to bring it back from the dead? 

Personally, I never used a MySpace account because I felt it was a waste of time and a portal for sexual predators to take advantage of young people! But unlike me, all of my friends during my high school years owned a MySpace account. I’m sure no one had any idea that it’d be the beginning of a social network take over. Unfortunately, MySpace just couldn’t withstand the test of time and lost the race against the very popular Facebook. 

Ever since Facebook took over the world, I really don’t believe there is a need for MySpace anymore. Even if purchased by a new company the site and concept is just outdated. I give the site credit as it did seem to pave the way for the new age of social networking, but with users consistently decreasing there just seems to be no real hope for a comeback.  Facebook can account for 40% of global internet users and was ranked the most visited site in the US in 2010; whereas MySpace was ranked 70^th. 

In order to save the site, MySpace would have to come up with a completely new and innovative use for it. It would have to be entirely different from Facebook and the features it already has to offer.  MySpace would also most likely need a new name since even the simple name of the site pushes users away. These are all changes that would take a lot of creativity, money, and time; all of which I don't foresee happening. 

In the fashion world we can count on trends and looks being recycled and eventually reused. Unfortunately, MySpace is NOT following this lead and I imagine its end coming in the near future. Rest in peace MySpace, luckily fashion really never dies! 

Keep it fancy,

Alexis Santiago

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342944/Facebook-passes-Google-popular-site-Internet.html

http://www.youngacademic.co.uk/features/the-death-of-myspace-young-academic-columns-953

Life is a runway; you never know when you’re going to end up in a photo shoot!

The phrase “the camera is always watching” has never been truer than it is today. Facial recognition software is the latest “search engine” to hit the internet and is already being used by popular social networking website Facebook.com

I recently uploaded pictures to a Facebook album and I was in complete shock when each of my friends in my photos was already assigned tags (links to their individual profiles) without my input. Facebook’s facial recognition software already recognized their faces and tagged their photos on its’ own! I honestly could not believe how smart the software was. But then I started to think, is it really possible for an innocent picture of me on the internet give a stranger access to my profile account? Better yet, access to all my social networking sites and photo albums! Well, now I am scared! This is just the beginning of the potential facial recognition software has to offer us.

Google will soon be launching an application that will allow users to take photos on their smart phones, upload them, and access the photo’d individual’s personal information. Apparently, Google has had the means and software to do this for quite some time but hasn’t acted on it due to privacy issues.  To be honest, the launch of the app along with the entire software in general doesn’t really appeal to me. It could be an invasion of privacy and potentially even dangerous in regards to stalkers and those who have ill intent. Of course, Google is going to attempt to safe proof the app by making its users grant permission to the website before use but is it enough? Google is trying to assure public that they are taking a “cautious route” with the software but it unfortunately still leaves people weary. I am interested to see how far facial recognition goes and if it is utilized in the way the creators had envisioned it. 

Make sure your photo ready at all times! 

Keep it fancy,

Alexis Santiago

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/03/31/google.face/

Convenience for the Starbucks fashionista on the go!

Over time technology has advanced at a pace that I could have never dreamed of. In my 22 years of existence I have seen cell phones go from simple and basic Nokia phones, to trendy flip Motorola phones, to the innovative and extremely convenient smart phones! Now in the smart phone era we literally have the entire world at our fingertips! Thanks to Starbucks, our fancy frappe experience just became even more convenient!

Starbucks has become the largest coffee chain company in the world with 17,000 locations in 55 different countries! Many have literally added their trip to Starbucks as a part of their daily routine which is why the company is constantly trying to come up with ways to make it easier for their consumers to make their purchases. Imagine, you’re in a rush, late to work, you order your typical daily Starbucks drink and use your smart phone to pay for it? Literally, no cash no hassle and an already quick transaction is made even quicker. Sounds like something I could have only dreamed of but now it has become a reality!

A simple smart phone application is all you need to be on your way for to a paperless, plastic-less transaction at your favorite local Starbucks.“So is this the wave of the future of the 'flow of compensation'” you ask?
I'd like to think so! Already other companies have come up with easy forms of payment for their consumers. For example, at some Mobile/Exxon gas stations if you have the Speedpass key card all you need to do is swipe it over the sensor pad and your transaction is paid for! Mobile even claims that using the Speedpass system is more secure than using your credit card!
Starbucks definitely is on to something with the smart phone application. Even with the simple card swipe at Mobile I believe a more technological discovery will come and soon we won’t even need our keys, credit cards, or maybe even our wallets!

We all know what that means; we are going to have to get some very fashionable and trendy smart phone cases since that's all we will need to carry in the future!

Keep it fancy,

Alexis




http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Starbucks+ideas+brewing+again/4589832/story.html
https://www.speedpass.com/forms/frmHowItWorks.aspx
http://e-marketingforsensiblefolk.blogspot.com

Social networking: Popularity Contest of Today

Social media networking is at an all-time high right now. But does it really matter how many Facebook friends or Twitter followers you have? Let’s take this to a more broad scale. Does your company succeed over its’ competition because your fan page has more “likes”?  Businesses are now cashing in on these social networks because they realize how important brand/product awareness is during the buying decision making process. 

So many consumers utilize these social networking sites daily, some even multiple times a day. Because of this, social network marketing not only makes sense but has the potential to be very profitable, if done correctly. After studying marketing for a short while I have learned the importance of consumer perception and a brands image. If a company saturates a specific social networking site with their advertisements the consumers then become more aware of the product/brand. Now throw in some incentive for the consumer to “follow “or “like” your page and you have a win/win situation. Many businesses are giving their consumers a percentage off of the cost of their purchases by simply subscribing to their social networking pages. The consumer is allowing that company to become a part of their personal network. The benefit of this is that the consumer can be consistently reminded of what’s going on with the company as long as they utilize their pages effectively. In turn, the business has a better chance of making their sales increase in the long run.

These businesses just need to make sure they keep up with their fan pages and social networking accounts as if they were their own personal accounts. They need to keep their name out in the social networking world to keep motivating their fan base. This is the best way to create and maintain an emotional connection to the consumer and effectively utilize this outlet of communication its’ full potential!

Keep it fancy,

Alexis Santiago

http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article.php?ident=31558#